Miesha Tate Faces Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce March 3

In what has to be one of the most anticipated women’s title fights since Cris Cyborg met Gina Carano in 2009, Strikeforce bantamweight women’s champion Miesha Tate will meet former Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey for the title on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.

Sources close to the contest confirmed the bout to MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday.

Ronda Rousey has made a meteoric rise in MMA in her brief stint in the sport. A former Olympic bronze medalist in Judo, Rousey burst onto the scene in 2011 and racked up four wins in a row.

She most recently defeated Julia Budd in Strikeforce in only 39 seconds, and immediately called for a fight with champion Miesha Tate.

The sparks began to fly at that point with Rousey and Tate going back and forth in interviews and over Twitter.

It now appears Rousey will get her wish and face Tate in her first title defense in March. Tate captured the belt last year when she defeated Marloes Coenen in July as part of the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson card in Chicago.

A winner of six fights in a row, Tate now faces Rousey in what will be a marquee match-up on the March 3 Strikeforce card headed for Columbus, Ohio, at the Nationwide Arena.

Sarah Kaufman I’m sure ain’t too happy with this decision. If you look at the rankings, she should have gotten it. Oh well..

Ronda via Armbar

b-soc

Hype and popularity rule the roost. Why do you think Mayhem got the coaching job on TUF – not because of talent or MMA records. He was a great coach, but he hasn’t even earned the right to be in the UFC, in my opinion.

fitefan

I like Mayhem, but he looked bad in that fight with Bisping. I dunno if he tensed up during that odd takedown and was gassed in the second and third or just had bad cardio. I really didn’t expect him to win. He needs to either pack on some upper body strenght or learn to cut to 170 AND improve his striking composure.

KBEsq

I bet Tate is pissed. She was actually on the MMA Hour w/ Ariel Helwani, and Helwani had her argue with Rousey for a bit. Tate wants Kaufman, because she thinks Rousey hasn’t earned a title shot so early, and is getting it because of her looks. Tate wants to avenge the loss.

In any given fight, I think the match makers balance who is deserving with what will make the most money and will be the most popular.

I think in the male world of MMA, the deserving aspect is given much more weight, and the popularity/money aspect is somewhat secondary, although still important. In the female world of MMA, it would seem the popularity/money aspect is given much more weight. They need to get people interested in these fights now for it to grow.

That said, it’s not such a stretch to see Rousey in this fight. She’s an Olympic level judo player, and has run through her competition. Also, Kaufman lost to Coenen, who Tate just beat. That might turn fans off a bit too much to tune in, even though it doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

I really think female MMA will hit a plateau and stay there. There just aren’t enough people who will want to do it, or see it. I hope I am wrong.

“Tate wants Kaufman, because she thinks Rousey hasn’t earned a title shot so early, and is getting it because of her looks.”

This is why women’s MMA is so ridiculous. Can you imagine something like this in men’s MMA? “Machida only got that title shot because he’s hotter than me!”

TKD

LOL…Hysterical indeed!!!

Lesnardo

Go ask Brock and Dana what they think about the situation.

Women’s MMA is ridiculous for this reason?

1mmafrk

Shut up! Hel-weenie nut-hugger.

KBEsq

People will insult you for pretty much any comment on this site. I cite to an interview that Helwani did where he actually had both fighters arguing with each other on the air about the exact topic, and you call me a Helwani nut hugger?

In case you didn’t realize, and I’m assuming you don’t realize much of anything because you write like a 2nd grader, I didn’t even mention anything about Helwani, other than it was his show. Wow, 1mmafrk, you’re dumb!

fitefan

Well, if it was woman’s world I’m sure the same comments would be directed towards the men. Hate to say it, but as men, we tend to do what Tosh.O does. Look at a chick, and the first thought is “yeah, I’d do her”

But to be fair, Rousy has been blasting through her opponents like Jones, and is being thrust to the top to see what she’s made of. The new face is always more interesting. Kauffman is getting the Fitch treatment.

I’m just irratated she’s fleeing the 145 division. I want to see Cyborg fight everybody. Hell, I think she’d beat half the men.

Darren2112

This is the fight I want to see. Kaufman can fight the winner. Dont see what the big deal is.

Womens divisions are more of a spectacle right now so fights that sell are going to get priority over fights between contenders until such time that womens MMA earns the credibility it deserves.

my only hope is that fighters like Kaufman, Tate and Cyborg fight more often. going a year or so between fights is just too much.

Personally, now that this fight has been announced, I will be keeping my Showtime account until at least Mar 3rd. I was going to cancel it after this weekends fights.

Lesnardo

The big deal is that Tate is somewhat scared of Ronda. I think anyone except for Cyborg would be scared to fight someone like Ronda.

alhmiel

nobody wants to see a plain boring pale sarah kaufman fight. Rousey is easy to look at and charming. Cyborg is a dude and kaufman is just boring. Tate and Rousey spur interest that is why the fight was made. Womens mma needs lookers not dull plain boring sarah kaufman

2qtgirl

Lesnardo believe me, Miesha is not even slightly afraid of ronda. Shes annoyed by her, and thinks shes pushed to the front before shes earned it. Hell anyone can look great and have a great record if the people they fight are all lower level fighters, and that bronze judo belt was one of two given at the 2008 olympic games in China, a repachage match, meaning giving the losers a chance to get a bronze. So she better bring something besides an armbar to this fight.